Soldier firing right-handed

The following message comes from a TV Documentary Maker and fellow leftie who visited our offices recently to interview us for a fascinating project in which many of our members may wish to take part:-

Dear (fellow) Left-handers,

My name is Will Aspinall and I am an established documentary maker for such broadcasters as the BBC and the Discovery Channel. I am now making a film concerning the experience of left-handers in modern combat and I am asking for assistance in its creation.

There has been a study of left-handers in WWI and WWII, where it was found that sinistrals have a far higher mortality rate than their right-handed comrades. The study (Handedness and longevity: archival study of cricketers by John Aggleton, BMJ) does not attempt to solve the ultimate question: why?

My film aims to take this research to the present day, in order to both solve the “why?” question and to see if left-handers have fared better in post-WWII conflicts. My theory is that just as we face difficulties with right-handed tools in everyday life, similar –and more grave- difficulties face the left-handed soldier with the right-handed rifle and other weapons.

Initial research has led me to believe that left-handedness is not registered in the recruitment process of the British armed forces, and left-handed recruits are therefore given the same training and weaponry as right-handers with potentially damaging results.

Having already filmed our newsletter editors, Lauren and Keith, I am now looking for people across the world who fulfill the following criteria-

• are left-handed and have been in the armed forces.
• have a relative or left-handed friend who was involved in the armed forces.
• are left-handed and was injured during combat.
• know of someone that was left-handed who was injured/ killed in action.
• may have information in the design of modern weaponry/ military training who can help my study.

This is the start of a personal journey and I would be very grateful for your assistance.
Click here to email me if you would like to be involved in any way (willaspinall at yahoo dot co dot uk)

Many thanks
Will

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